SPC says region should prepare for further outbreaks of Rubella

The regional organisation, the Pacific Community, or SPC, says the region needs to be prepared to deal with possible further outbreaks of Rubella.

The SPC says it is primarily concerned about the effects Rubella can have on unborn children, including serious defects such as deafness and mental disability.

The Manger of Public Health Programmes at the SPC, Dr Mark Jacobs, says countries need to make sure their Health Departments are ready.

"Rubella is certainly a very infectious condition so in any community where there might be people who are at risk of developing Rubella because they haven't had it before or because they haven't been immunised, there's gonna be a risk of Rubella spreading in those communities if somebody comes into the community who is incubating the infection or already has the symptoms."